Vibrating equipment



{ INVENTOR.

Arr)! F. W. PORTER VIBRATING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANK IV. P027152 Jan. 8, 1963 Filed Sept. 5, 1961 aljni E v C .r

Jan. 8, 1963 F. w. PORTER VIBRATING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet? Filed Sept. 5, 1961 INVENTOR. Fem/K 14 Pom-5k Jan. 8, 1963 F. w. PORTER 3,071,901

' VIBRATING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F76. He. 7

INVENTOR.

FPAN/(M 1 02752 BY ArrK Jan. 8, 1963 F. w. PORTER 3,

VIBRATING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 5. 1-961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JI 7 LI:

INVENTOR. 7 'FQA/VK n4 Pmrna United States Patent 3,071,901 VIBRATING, EQUIPMENT Frank W. Porter, Montgomery, Ill., assiguor to Produc:

tive Equipment Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 136,094 Claims. (Cl. 51--163) This invention relates to improvements in vibrating equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in vibrating devices which can be used to polish articles.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved vibrating device which can be used to polish articles.

This invention is an improvement upon, and is a continuation-in-part of, the invention shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 7,690 for Vibrating Equipment which was filed February 9, 1960.

In the treating of articles, it is frequently desirable to place the articles within a container that has polishing media therein and to apply controlled vibration to that container. That vibration will provide rapid but small amplitude shifting of the articles relative to the polishing media, and will thereby effect the desired polishing of the articles. Once the polishing operation has been completed, the container can be tilted to discharge the polished articles and the polishing media from that container.

During the polishing operation, it is necessary that the container be held in upright position, but after the polishing operation has been completed it is desirable that the container be tilted to discharging position. The said application discloses a vibrating device with a container which can beheld in upright position, during the polishing operation, by arcuate clamps that selectively engage sleeve-like portions of castings which are secured to the opposite ends of the container. Those sleeve-like portions rest upon a number of rollers which are arranged to define two semi-circles that are complementary to the lower halves of those sleeve-like portions; and those rollers will facilitate ready rotation of the container when the clamps are released. While the vibrating device of the said application is perfectly workable, the present invention provides a vibrating device which makes it possible to reduce the magnitude of the holding forces which must be applied to the sleeve-like portions of the castings by the clamps to hold the container in upright position. The present invention makes it possible to reduce the magnitude of the holding forces, which must be applied to the sleevelike portions of the castings by the clamps, bydisplacing the rollers from the sleeve-like portions whenever the clamps are in engagement with those sleeve-like portions. When those rollers are displaced from those sleeve-like portions, those sleeve-like portions will engage stationary braking surfaces and be solidly held against rotation, and will thus hold the container solidly against rotation.

However, when the container is to be rotated, the clamps will be moved out of engagement with the sleeve-like portions and the rollers will be moved into supporting engagement with those sleeve-like portions; and thereuponthe container can easily be rotated. In this way, the present invention provides ready rotation of the container, whenever that container is to be rotated, and solidly holds that container against rotation, whenever that container is to be held against rotation, withonly moderate hold ing forces. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a container, for a vibrating device for polishing articles, with rollers that canengage the sleeve- P ented, Jaw 6.3

2 of movable frames that rotatably support the rollers; and those frames are disposed adjacent the sleeve-like portions of the castings secured to the container and are also dis posed adjacent stationary braking surfaces' 'Wlieneve'r the container is to be rotated, the frames are raised upwardly to move the clamps upwardly out'of engagement with the sleeve-like portions on the castings on the container and to raise the rollers upwardly into supporting engagement with the lower parts of those sleeve-like portions. When, however, the container is to be held against rotation, the frames are lowered downwardly to move the rollers downwardly out of engagement with the sleevelike portions of the castings on the containers, to force the clamps downwardly info holding engagement with the upper parts of those sleeve-like portions, and to force the lower parts of the sleeve-like portions into holding engagement with the stationary braking surfaces. By having the clamps and the rollers mounted on the same frames; the present inventionavoids any holding of the container against rotation whenever that container is supposed to .be rotated, and will keep the rollers from facilitating rotation of that container whenever that container is to be held against rotation. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vibrating device for polishing articles with movable frames that have clamps and rollers which are selectively engageable with the sleeve like portions of the castings on the con tainer of that vibrating device.

The movable frames can be moved toward and away from the stationary braking surfaces by double-threaded clamping screws; and the upper ends of those doublethreaded clamping screws hold the movable frames while the lower ends of those double-threaded clamping screws are held by threaded sockets adjacent the stationary braking surfaces. The double-threaded clamping screws have threads with long pitches, and hence those doublethreaded clamping screws can provide substantial move,- ment of the movable frames even when those doublethreaded clamping screws are rotated less than one revolution. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to support the movable frames of the vibrating device on double-threaded clamping'screws. V

The container provided by the present invention is rotated by a hydraulic motor, and the movable frames are moved by the double-threaded clamping screws which are rotated by' hydraulic cylinders. Normally the hydraulic cylinders will hold the double-threaded clamping screws in position to enable the clamping portions of the movable frames to positively lock the container against rotation, but those cylinders can be actuated to cause the double-threaded clampingscrjew s to move the movable frames until the rollers engage and support the sleeve-like portions of the castings on the container andthereby facilitate rotation of that container. v

The present invention'interlocks the hydraulic cylinders and the hydraulic motor so that, whenever'the hydraulic cylinders are actuated to cause the double-threaded clamping screws to move the movable frames until the rollers engage and support the sleeve-like portions of the castings on the container and thereby facilitate rotation of that container, the hydraulic motor will start rotating that container. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a container, for vibrating devices that motor will begin to apply rotative forces to the container asthe hydraulic cylinders start themovable frames to container-freeing position.

' Otherand further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away, partially-sectioned, fragmentary view of one end of a container of a vibrating device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 i a view that is generally similar to the view shown in FIG. 1, but it shows the container in position to be rotated,

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view through the opposite end of the container of FIG. 1 and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, through the structureof FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, through the structure of FIG. 1, and it i taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in FIG. 1,

- FIG. 6 is still another sectional View, on the scale of FIG. 4, through the structure of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, through the structure of FIG. 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 7-7 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, through the structure of FIG. 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 8-8 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 i still another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, through the structure of FIG. 2, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is yet another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, through the structure of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 10-10 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one of the movable frames associated with the container of the vibrating device provided by the present invention, and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system used with the vibrating device provided by the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 82 denotes arigid framework which is incorporated within, and which is an integral part of, the side wall of a vibratable frame, not shown. That framework will be suitably fabricated from sturdy bars, it will strengthen the said side wall, and it will enable that side wall to support heavy static and dynamic loads. That framework can be identical to the similarly-numbered framework in the said ap plication.

- The numeral 22 generally denote a casting which has laterally-projecting ears 24 adjacent the bottom thereof, and those ears have vertically-directed openings therein. The bottom of thatcasting rests upon the upper surface of the framework 82; and screws or bolts 23 extend downwardly through the openings in the ears 24 to fixedly secure that casting to the framework 82. The casting 22 also has laterally-extending ears 25 and 26 thereon, and those ears are generally in vertical registry with the ears 24; and each of the cars 25 and 26 has a vertically-directed threaded passageway 27 through it. A concave cradlelike braking surface 28 is provided on the casting 22, and that surface is intermediate the ears 25 and 26. Two recesse 30 are formed in' the casting22, and those recesses extend downwardly from the upper face of the braking surface 28. The sides of those recesses are defined by vertical planes, and the bottoms of those recesses are defined by arcuate surfaces.

The numeral 32 generally denotes a clamping frame,

and that frame includes an arcuate clamping portion 34 and two generally U-shaped plates 36 and 38. The clamping portion 34 is preferably solid and is preferably formed as a casting. The under-face of that clamping portion is concave, and it has a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the concave cradle-like braking surface 28 on the casing 22. The radii of curvature of the closed ends of the U-shaped plates 36 and 38 also will be substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the concave cradle-like braking surface 28 on the casting 22. However, the distance between the uppermost point of the concave under-face of the arcuate clamping portion 34 and the lowermost portion of the concave surfaces of the U-shaped plates 36 and 38 is greater than twice the radius of any of those surfaces. The plates 36 and 38 are preferably welded to the clamping portion 34, and those plates have ears 39 and 41-the ears 39 being at the left-hand sides of those plates and the ears 41 being at the right-hand sides of those plates. Openings 40 are provided in the cars 39, and openings 42 are provided in the ears 41; and the openings 40 are in alinement with each other and the openings 42 are in alinement with each other.

The clamping portion 34 has vertically-directed faces 33 at the opposite ends thereof, and those faces coact with portions of the confronting faces of the ears 39 and 41 to define recesses which are U-shaped in plan. The clamping portion 34 also has horizontally-directed threaded sockets 43 which are contiguous to the recesses defined by the vertically-directed faces 33 and by the said portions of the confronting faces of the ears 39 and 41.

The numeral 44 denotes nuts which have been suitably welded to the outer face of the U-shaped plate 36, and those nuts are mounted adjacent opening in the closed end of that plate. Similar openings are provided in the closed end of the plate 38, and those openings will be in register with openings adjacent which the nuts 44 are welded. Bolts 48 telescope forwardly through the openings in the closed end of the plate 38 and extend through the openings in the said plate 36 to seat in the threaded openings of the nut 44. Washers 47 telescope over the bolts 48 and are adjacent the confronting faces of the closed ends of the U-shaped plates 36 and 38. The inner races of anti-friction bearings 46 telescope over the shanks of the bolts 48, and those inner races are interposed between the washer 47. The outer races of the anti-friction bearings 46 project upwardly above the levels of the adjacent portions of the closed ends of the U-shaped plates 36 and 38.

A block 52 that has the form of a parallelepiped is dimensioned so it can be disposed within the recess which is. defined by the vertically-directed face 33 and the ears 41.. A similar block, not shown, is disposed within the recess defined by the other vertically-directed face 33 and the ears 39. Each of those blocks has a horizontally-directed passage 56 through it, and that passage accommodates a. screw 58 which has the threaded shank thereof extending into the threaded socket 43 in the end of the clamping portion 34. Each of the blocks 52 has a horizontally-directed passageway 54 through it which is disposed at right angles to the passageway 56; and bolts 62 extend through the passageways 54. One of those bolts also ex tends through the openings 42 in the cars 41 of the U-shaped plates 36 and 38 to coact with one of the screws 58 to fixedly secure one of the blocks 52 to the right-hand side of the clamping frame 32; while the other of those bolts also extends through the openings 40 in the ears 39 on the U-shaped plates 36 and 38 to coact with the other of the screws 58 to fixedly secure the other of the blocks 52 to the left-hand side of the clamping frame 32. Nuts can be threaded onto the projecting shanks of the bolts 62 to prevent accident separation of those bolts. from the. clamping frame 32 and from the blocks 52..

Each of the blocks 52 also has a vertically-directed threaded passage 51 through it; and the threads at the inner surfaces of the passageways 51 are similar in direction and pitch. Those threaded passageways accommodate the upper ends of double-threaded clamping screws; and the double-threaded clamping screw which extends into the passageway 51 of the left-hand block 52 is denoted by the numeral 64, while the double-threaded clamping screw which extends into the passageway 51 of the right-hand block 52 is denoted by the numeral 66. Each 'of the double-threaded clamping screws 64 and 66 has a polygonal wrench-receiving surface adjacent the center thereof, and each of those double-threaded rods has axially extending, circumferentially spaced serrations thereon adjacent the bottom thereof. The threads on the lower ends of the double-threaded clamping screws 64 and 66 incline oppositely to the threads on the upper ends of those clamping screws and those low-er threads extend into and mate with the threads in the passageways 27 within the ears 25 and 26. The serrations on the lower ends of the double-threaded clamping screws 64 and 66 are small enough to telescope freely through the threaded passageways 27 within the ears 25 and 26. The threads on the double-threaded clamping screws 64 and 66 have long pitches, and so do the threads at the inner surfaces of the passageways 27 and 51. As a result, rotation of the double-threaded clamping screws 64 and 66 can cause rapid and appreciable movement of the clamping frame 32 upwardly or downwardly relative to the casting 22.

The numeral 69 denotes a link which has an opening adjacent one end thereof, and that opening has the inner surface thereof serrated to accommodate the serrations on the lower end of the double-threaded clamping screw 64. The numeral 70 denotes a link which has an opening adjacent .one end thereof, and that opening has the inner surface thereof serrated to accommodate the serrations on the lower end of the double-threaded clamping screw 66.

A double-acting hydraulic cylinder 90 has the closed end thereof rotatably mounted on the framework 82; and a yoke 86 which is mounted on the plunger 87 of that cylinder will be suitably connected to the outer end of the link 70 by a pin 85. An adjustable tie rod, not shown, will be rotatably secured to the link 70 by a pin 84 and a yoke, not shown, and also to the link 69, so rotation of i the link 70 will cause concomitant rotation of the link 69.

on that bracket abuts the right-hand end of a container 168, and that flange will be secured to that end by threaded studs 100 which are fixedly secured to that end and :by nuts 102 which are threaded onto the studs 100. The radius of curvature of the outer face of the sleevelike portion -92 is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the concave under-face of the clamping portion 314 f the clamping frame, as the radii of curvature of the inner surfaces of the closed ends of the U-shaped plates 36 and 38, and as the radius of curvature of the concave, cradl e-like,braking surface 28. The sleeve-like portion 92 telescopes through the generally-circular area defined by the clamping portion 34 and the U-shaped plates 36 and 38 of the clamping frame 32; and, whenever that clamping frame is in the loweredposition shown by FIG. 1, the sleeve-like portion 92 will abut the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28, and the outer races of the anti-friction bearings 46 will be disposed below and out ,of engagement with that sleeve-like portion. However, whenever the clamping frame 92 is in the raised position shown by FIG. 2, the sleeve-like portion 92 will be raised upwardly out of engagement with the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28 and will be engaged and supported by the outer races of the anti-friction .bear ings 46.

Referring to FIG. 3, the numerals 125 and 126 denote ears adjacent the bottom of a casting which is identical to the casting 22; and that casting is adjacent the left-hand end of the container 168. That casting has a concave, cradle-like braking surface, not shown, which is identical to the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28 on the casting 22; and a clamping frame that is substantially identical to the clamping frame 32 is provided adjacent that casting. That clamping frame has a U-shaped plate 136 which is identical to the U-shaped plate 36 of the clamp ing frame 32, and it has a U-shaped plate 138 which is identical to the U-shaped plate 38 of the clamping frame 32. A clamping portion, not shown, which is identical to the clamping portion 34 is interposed between the ears, not shown, at the upper ends of the U-shaped plates 136 and 138. The cars on the U-shaped plates 136 and 138 will abut blocks, not shown, which are identical to the blocks 52; and those blocks will have threaded passageways therein which will accommodate the upper ends of double-threaded clamping screws 164 and 166. Those double-threaded clamping screws will be identical to the double-threaded clamping screws 64 and 66. The lower ends of the double-threaded clamping screws 164 and 166 will be disposed within threaded passageways in the cars and 126 on the casting adjacent the left-hand end of the container 168. i

The lower ends of the double-threaded clamping screws 164 and 166 will have vertically-directed serrations thereon, and those serrations will be complementary to serrations at the inner surfaces of openings in links 169 and 170. Those links are identical to the links 69 and 70, and they are shown in detail in FIG. 3. The portions of the links 169 and 170 that accommodate the serrated lower ends of the double-threaded clamping screws 164 and 166 resemble split rings, and they have bolts 165 and 167 which can be tightened to clamp those portions of those links solidly onto the serrated lower ends of the double-threaded clamping screws 164 and 166. V The link 169 has an extension 172 thereon; and a handle or actuator, not shown, can be telescoped over that extension to rotate that link relative to the car 125 whenever the clamping and releasing of the container 168 is to be effected manually.

The numeral 174 denotes a yoke which telescopes over an car on the link 169, and a pin 176 extends downwardly through alined openings in the yoke 174 and in that car. That pin will maintain the yoke 174 in assembled relation with the link 169 while permitting that yoke to rotate relative to that link. The yoke 174 has a threaded socket therein, and that socket accommodates one of the threaded ends of an adjustable tie rod 178. A nut 180 is threaded onto that threaded end of that adjustable tie rod, and that nut can be tightened against the end face of the yoke 174 to prevent undesired rotation of that adjustable tie rod relative to the yoke 174. The other threaded end of the adjustable tie rod 178 extends into a threaded socket in a yoke 182. That yoke has alined openings therein, and those openings can be set in register with an opening in an ear on the link 170'. A pin 184 is telescoped through those alined openings; and that pin will hold the yoke 182 in assembled relation with that car on the link 170 While permitting rotation of that link relative to that :yoke. A pin 185 extends through an opening adjacent the outer end of the link 170 and through openings in a yoke 186 that is secured to the threaded outer end of the plunger 188 of a double-acting cylinder 190. The

- closedend of that cylinder is rotatably secured to a framework which is similar to the framework 82 but which underlies and supports the ears 125 and 126' i The numeral 194 denotes a bracket which is identical to the bracket 94; and that bracket has a sleeve-like portion 192 thereon plus a -radiallyextending flange. That radially-extending flange is secured to the left-hand end of the container 168 by screws 96 and nuts 98 and by threaded studs 200 and nuts 202. The radius of curvature of-the outer face of the sleeve-like portion 192 is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the under-face of the clamping portion of the clamping frame which includes the U-shaped plates 136 and 138, as the radii of curvature of the inner surfaces of the closed ends of the U-shaped plates 136 and 138, and as the radius of curvature of the concave, cradle-like, braking surface on the casting which has the ears 125 and 126. The sleeve-like portion 192 extends through the generallycircular space defined by the clamping frame which includes the U-shaped plates 136 and 138. Whenever that clamping frame is in its lower position, the sleeve-like portion 192 will rest upon the braking surface of the casting which has the ears 125 and 126, but whenever that clamping frame is in its raised position, the sleevelike portion 192 will rest upon the outer faces of antifriction bearings which are identical to the anti-friction bearings 46.

The numeral 206 denotes a circular plate that is dimensioned to fit within an annular recess in the outer face of the bracket 194. As indicated particularly by FIG. 3, the plate 206 is disposed inwardly of the sleeve-like portion 192; and that plate has openings which telescope over the threaded studs 200. As a result, the nuts 202 not only help maintain the bracket 194 in assembled relation with the left-hand end of the container 168 but also maintain the plate 206 in assembled relation with that bracket.

The plate 206 has an annular rib 208 formed thereon, and that rib guides and helps confine the right-hand end of a hydraulic motor 210. Bolts 212 extend through openings in the plate 206 and seat in threaded sockets in the right-hand end of that hydraulic motor. That motor is of standard and usual construction, and hence need vnot be described in detail.

The left-hand end of the motor 210 has a circular plate 218 secured to it, and that circular plate is also secured to a flange 216 at the left-hand end of a semi-cylindrical support 214. The right-hand end of that semi-cylindrical support is suitably secured to the plate 206, as by welding. The plate 218 has an opening therein, and the shaft 220 of the hydraulic motor extends freely through that opening. That shaft extends into a bracket 222, and it is suitably fixed against rotation relative to that bracket by a pin or the like. The bracket 222 is formed at the upper end of a support which extends downwardly and laterally to the framework which underlies the ears 125 and 126. As a result, the shaft 220 of the motor 210 is fixedly held against rotation.

The numeral 224 denotes a hydraulic line which extends between one of the ports of the hydraulic motor 210 and one of the ports of a four-way, spring-centered, double-solenoid valve 228; and a hydraulic line 226 extends between the other port of that hydraulic motor and another port of that valve. A hydraulic line 230 extends between one of the outlet ports of a hydraulic pump 234 and another of the ports of the valve 228; and a hydraulic line 232 extends between the remaining port of the valve 228 and a tank 236.

A hydraulic line 240 extends between one of the ports of the cylinder 90 and one of the ports of a four-way, spring-centered, double-solenoid valve 248; and a hydraulic line 244 extends between the other port of that cylinder and another port of that valve. A hydraulic line 242 branches off of the hydraulic line 240 to one of the ports of the cylinder 190; and a hydraulic line 246 branches off of the hydraulic line 244 to the other port of that cylinder.

A hydraulic line 252 extends from another outlet port of the pump 234 to a third port of the valve 248, and a hydraulic line 250 extends between the remaining port of that valve and the tank 236. A hydraulic line 256 extends from the remaining outlet port of the pump 234 to the tank 236, and a suction line 254 extends from the tank 236 to the inlet port of the pump 234.

In the normal condition of the vibrating device provided by the present invention, the plungers of the counterpart.

double-acting hydraulic cylinders and 190 will be in their retracted positions; and those plungers will hold the double-threaded clamping screws 64, 66, 164 and 166 in positions where those clamping screws will hold the blocks 52 close to the ears 24, and 126. As a result, those double-threaded clamping screws will hold the clamping portions of the two clamping frames solidly against the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192 and will thus force those sleeve-like portions solidly against the braking surface 28 and its counterpart. The overall result is that in the normal position of the vibrating device provided by the present invention, the container 168 will be solidly held against rotation.

Whenever it is desirable to rotate the container 168 toward dumping position, the motor which drives the rotor of the pump 234 will be energized and the valves 228 and 248 will be actuated. That motor and those valves can be actuated by pressing a dump push button. The valve 228 will be actuated in such a way that the hydraulic fluid which is supplied to the motor 210 will tend to rotate the motor housing 210, and hence the container 168, toward dumping position. The valve 248 will cause hydraulic fluid to pass into the cylinders 90 and 190 and move the plungers of those cylinders to extended position; and thereupon the links 70 and will rotate-the link 170 rotating in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 3. As those links rotate, they will act through the adjustable tie rods to cause the links 69 and 169 to rotate-the link 169 also rotating in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 3. The rotation of the links 69, 70, 169, and 170 will cause rotation of the double-threaded clamping screws 64, 66, 164 and 166 and will thereby cause the two clamping frames to move upwardly relative to the casting 22 and its counterpart.

As those clamping frames move upwardly, they will move the anti-friction bearings 46 and their counterparts up into supporting engagement with the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192 and thereby raise those sleeve-like portions up out of engagement with the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28 and its counterpart. As those anti-friction bearings raise those sleeve-like portions, the motor housing 210 will be able to rotate relative to the fixedly-held shaft 220, and will thus be able to rotate the container 168 relative to the supporting framework 82 and its counterpart. As the container 168 approaches the desired dumping position, a stop push button can be pressed; and that push button will cause the valve 228 to halt further flow of hydraulic fluid to the motor 210 and will cause the valve 248 to apply hydraulic fluid to the cylinders 90 and and cause retraction of the plungers of those cylinders. That push button will also, after a few seconds, cause the motor which drives the rotor of the pump 234 to become de-energized. As the plungers of the cylinders 90 and 190 move toward their retracted positions, they will cause the links 69, 70, 169 and 170 to rotate back to their normal positions; and as those links so rotate they will rotate the double-threaded clamping screws 64, 66, 164 and 166 to force the clamping portions of the two clamping frames downwardly against the upper faces of the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192 and to move the anti-friction bearings downwardly relative to the braking surface 28 and its counterpart. As a result, those anti-friction bearings will move down into the recesses 30 and their counterparts and will be out of engagement with the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192, and those sleeve-like portions will be fixedly held by the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28 and its counterpart and by the clamping portion 34 and its The short duration, continued energization of the motor which drives the pump 234 will enable that pump to provide the hydraulic fluid needed to re-clamp the container 168.

When the container 168 is to be returned to its upright position, a return push button can be pressed; and that push button will re-energize the motor which drives the rotor of pump 234 and will again energize the valves 228 and 248. The valve 228 will be actuated in such a way that the hydraulic fluid which is supplied to the motor 210 will tend to rotate the motor housing 210, and hence the container 168, toward upright position. The valve 248 will cause hydraulic fluid to pass into the cylinders 90 and 190 and move the plungers of those cylinders to extended position; and thereupon the links 70 and 170 will rotate-the link 170 rotating in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 3. As those links rotate, they will act through the adjustable tie rods to cause the links 69 and 169 to rotatethe link 169 also rotating in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 3. The rotation of the links 69, 70, 169 and 170 will cause rotation of the double-threaded clamping screws 64, 66, 164 and 166 and will thereby cause the two clamping frames to move upwardly relative to the casting 22 and its counterpart. As those clamping frames move upwardly they will move the anti-friction bearings .46 and their counterparts up into supporting engagement with the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192 and thereby raise those sleeve-like portions up out of engagement with the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28 and its counterpart. As those anti-friction bearings raise those sleeve-like portions, the motor housing 210 will be -able to rotate relative to the fixedly-held shaft 220, and will thus be able to rotate the container 168 relative to the supporting framework 82 and its counterpart. As the container 168 approachesitsupright position, the stop push button can again be pressed; and .that push button will cause the valve 228 to halt further flow of hydraulic fluid to the motor 210 and will cause the valve 248 to apply hydraulic fluid to the cylinders 90 and 190 and causeretraction of the plungers of those cylinders. That push button will also, after a few seconds, cause the motor which drives the rotor of the pump 234 to become de-energized. 'As the plungers of the cylinders 90 and 190 move ,toward their retracted positions, they will cause the links 69, 70 169 and 170 to rotate back to their normal positions; and as those links so rotate they will rotate the double-threaded clamp ing screws 64, 66, 164 and 166 to force the clamping portions of the two clamping frames downwardly against the upper faces of the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192 and to move the anti-friction'bearings downwardly relative to the braking surface 28 and its counterpart. As a result, those anti-friction bearings will move down into the recesses 30 and their counterparts and will be out ofengagement with the sleeve-like portions 92 and 192 and those sleeve-like portions will be fixedly held by the concave, cradle-like braking surface 28 and its counterpart and by the clamping portion 34 and its counterpart. It willbe noted that the hydraulic motor'210 is energized only when the valve 248 urges the plungers of the cylinders 90 and 190 toward container-freeing position; and this is desirablebecause it prevents undesired rotation of the container 168. i

In someinstances, it may be desirableto control cycling of the vibrating device automatically. -In-those instances, the push buttons can be paralleled or replaced by the contacts of a suitable programming device.

In the drawing, the housing of the hydraulic motor 210 is shown as being secured to the container 168 by .rneans of the plate 206, and this arrangement is very workable. However, ifdesired, the shaft 220 of the motor could be seated in a socket the plate 206 so that the shaft would rotate with the container 168; and in such a case, the housing of the motor 210 would be fixedly securedto the bracket 222.

If desired, the links 69, '70, 169 and 170 could be operated manually rather than by hydraulic power. Where that is to be done, the yoke 186and its counterpart would be removed from the links '170 and 70, respectively, and handles or levers would be applied to the extension 172 and to its counterpart to rotate the links 172 and 72. Toclampthecontainer 168 against rotation, the handle 10-- or lever would be used to shift the links 169 and 170 to the position shown by FIG. 3 and .would be used to rotate the links 69 and 70 to corresponding positions. To free that container for rotation, that handle or lever would be used to rotate the links 169 and 170 to the dotted-line positions in FIG. 3 and would be used to rotate the links 69 and 70 to corresponding positions. j

Also, if desired, the container 168 could be rotated manually rather than by the use of hydraulic power. Where that is to be done, the motor 210 would be removed and a segment similar to the segment shown in the said application would be mounted on one of the ends of the container 168 and a pinion would .be disposed in engagement with that segment to rotate that container.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1 In a vibrating device which has a container that is normally held in an upright position but that can be selectively rotated to a dumping position, sleeve-like portions that are secured to and that project axially from the opposite ends of said container, vihratable castings with concave semi-cylindrical cradle-like braking surfaces thereon, said braking surfaces having substantially the same radii of curvature as said sleeve-like portions whereby the lower faces of said sleeve-like portions can en gage said concave, semi-cylindrical, cradle-like braking surfaces in face-to-face relation, each of said castings having recesses therein that arecontiguous with the concave, semi-cylindrical, cradle-like braking surface of said cast ing and that are disposed on opposite sides of a vertical line passing through the geometric center of said concave,

semi-cylindrical braking surface, said castings having ont-' wardly-extending ears thereon with vertically-directed threaded passages therein, clamping frames that each include a clamping portion and a pair of generally U-shaped plates which are fixedly secured to the opposite faces of said clamping portion, said clamping portions having concave, semircylindrical braking surfaces that coact with said concave, semi-cylindrical, cradle-like braking surfaces on said castings to define generally-circular openings that can accommodate said sleeve-like portions, said clamping portions coacting with said generally U-shaped plates to define larger generally-circular openings that can accom modate said sleeve-like portions, said clamping portions having radii of curvature which are substantially equal to the radii of curvature of said sleeve-like portions, supports which extend between the U-shaped plates of said clamping frames, anti-friction bearings that are carried by said supports and that have the outer races thereof projecting above the closed ends of said generally U-' shaped plates to be capable of engaging said sleeve-like portions, said anti-frictionbearings being in register with and having the greatest portions thereof disposable within said recesses in said castings and being smaller than said recesses whereby said anti-friction bearings can 'be moved upwardly and downwardly in said recesses, said clamping frames having vertically directed threaded passageways therein, the threads at the inner faces of said passageways in said clamping frames being inclined oppositely to the threads at the inner faces of said passageways in said castings, double-threaded clamping screws having the lower ends thereof disposed within said threaded passageways in saidcastings and having the upper ends thereof disposed within said threaded passageways in said clamping frames and being rotatable to rnove said clamping frames vertically relativejto said castings, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in one direction to cause" said clamping frames to move downwardly and thereby force said concave, semi-cylindrical hraking faces thereon'into braking engagement with the upper faces of said sleevelike portions and to force the lower faces of said sleevelike portions into braking engagement with said concave, semi-cylindrical cradle-like braking surfaces on said castings, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in the opposite direction to cause said clamping frames to move upwardly and thereby raise said concave, semi-cylindrical braking faces thereon out of braking engagement with the upper faces of said sleeve-like portions and to move the outer races of said anti-friction bearings upwardly relative to said concave, semi-cylindrical, cradlelike braking surfaces on said castings to lift said sleevelike portions up out of engagement with said concave, semi-cylindrical, cradle-like braking surfaces on said castings, links that are secured to said double-threaded clamping screws and that can be rotated to effect rotation of said double-threaded clamping screws, adjustable tie rods that connect pairs of said links for concurrent rotation, hydraulic cylinders that are connected to some of said links and that normally dispose said clamping screws in position to hold said arcuate, semi-cylindrical braking surfaces on said clamping portions of said clamping frames in braking engagement with the upper faces of said sleeve-like portions and to hold the lower faces of said sleeve-like portions in braking engagement with said concave, cradle-like braking surfaces on said castings, said hydraulic cylinders being actuatable to rotate said clamping screws to raise said clamping frames and thereby move said arcuate, semi-cylindrical braking surfaces on said clamping portions of said clamping frames upwardly out of braking engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to raise said anti-friction bearings upwardly to engage said sleeve-like portions and raise said sleeve-like portions upwardly out of braking engagement with said concave cradle-like braking surfaces on said castings, and a hydraulic motor that can be actuated to effect rotation of said container relative to said castings, said hydraulic motor being adapted to be energized only when said hydraulic cylinders are urging said clamping frames to their raised positions, said closed ends of said generally U- shaped plates extending downwardly on opposite sides of those portions of said castings which define said concave cradle-like braking surfaces.

2. In a vibrating device which has a container that is normally held in upright position but that can be selectively rotated to dumping position, sleeve-like portions that are secured to and that project from the ends of said container, vibratable members with cradle-like braking surfaces, said members having recesses therein that are contiguous with said cradle-like braking surfaces, said members having vertically-directed threaded passages therein, clamping frames that each include a clamping portion and a pair of generally U-shaped plates which are fixedly secured to opposite faces of said clamping portion and that coact with said clamping portion to define a generally circular opening that can telescope over one of said sleeve-like portions, said clamping portions and said cradle-like braking surfaces being oppositely disposed of said sleeve-like portion, anti-friction elements that are carried by supports which extend between the closed ends of said generally U-shaped plates and that can engage said sleeve-like portions, said anti-friction ele ments being disposable within saidrecesses in said members and being smaller than-said recesses whereby said anti-friction elements can be moved relative to said recesses, said clamping frames having threaded passageways therein and having the threads at the inner faces of said passageways inclined oppositely to the threads at the inner faces of said passageways of said members, double-threaded clamping screws having the lower ends thereof disposed within said threaded passageways within said members and having the upper ends thereof disposed within said threaded passageways in said clamping frames and being rotatable to move said clamping frames relative to said members, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in one direction to cause said clamping frames to move downwardly and thereby force said clamping portions into braking engagement with the upper faces of said sleeve-like portions and to force the lower faces of said sleeve-like portions into braking engagement with said cradle-like braking surfaces on said members, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in the opposite direction to cause said clamping frames to move upwardly and thereby raise said clamping portions out of braking engagement with the upper faces of said sleeve-like portions and to move said anti-friction elements upwardly relative to said cradle-like braking surfaces on said members to lift said sleeve-like portions up out of engagement with said cradle-like braking surfaces on said members, links that are secured to said doublethreaded clamping screws and that can be rotated to effect rotation of said double-threaded clamping screws, adjustable tie rods that connect pairs of said links for concurrent rotation, and hydraulic cylinders that are connected to some of said links and that normally dispose said clamping screws in position to hold said clamping portions of said clamping frames in braking engagement with the upper faces of said sleeve-like portions and to hold the lower faces of said sleeve-like portions in braking engagement with said cradle-like braking surfaces on said castings, said hydraulic cylinders being actuatable to rotate said clamping screws to raise said clamping frames and thereby move said clamping portions of said clamping frames upwardly out of braking engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to raise said anti-friction bearings upwardly to engage said sleeve-like portions and raise said sleeve-like portions upwardly out of engagement with said cradle-like braking surfaces on said members.

3. In a vibrating device which has a container that is normally held in upright position but that can be selectively rotated to dumping position, sleeve-like portions that are secured to and that project from the ends of said container, vibratable members with braking surfaces, said members having recesses therein, said members having threaded passages therein, clamping frames that each includes a clamping portion and a pair of generally U- shaped plates that coact with said clamping portion to define a generally circular opening that can telescope over one of said sleeve-like portions, said clamping portions and said braking surfaces being oppositely disposed of said sleeve-like portion, anti-friction elements that are carried by supports which extend between the closed ends of said generally U-shaped plates and that can engage said sleeve-like portions, said anti-friction elements being disposable within said recesses in said members and being smaller than said recesses whereby said anti-friction elements can be moved relative to said recesses, said clamping frames having threaded passageways therein and having the threads at the inner faces of said passageways inclined oppositely to the threads at the inner faces of said passageways of said members, double-threaded clamping screws having the opposite ends thereof disposed within said threaded passageways within said members and within said threaded passageways in said clamping frames and being rotatable to move said clamping frames relative to said members, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in one direction to cause said clamping frames to move relative to said members and thereby force said clamping portions into braking engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to force said sleeve-like portions into braking engagement with said braking surfaces on said members, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in the opposite direction to cause said clamping frames to move relative to said members and thereby force said clamping portions out of braking engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to cause said anti-friction elements to move said sleeve-like portions out of engagement with said braking surfaces on said members, and members that are secured to said double-threaded clamping screws and that can be rotated to efiect rotation of said double-threaded clamping screws.

'4. In a vibrating device which has a container that is normally held in upright position but that can be selectively rotated to dumping position, sleeve-like portions that are secured to and that project from the ends of said container, vi'bratable members with braking surfaces, said members having threaded passages therein, clamping frames that each include a clamping portion, said clampingportions and said braking surfaces being oppositely disposed of said sleeve-like portions, anti-friction elements that are carried by said clamping frames and that can engage said sleeve-like portions, said clamping frames having threaded passageways therein and having the threads at the inner faces of said pasageways inclined oppositely to the threads at the inner faces of said passageways of said members, double-threaded clamping screws having the opposite ends thereof disposed within said threaded passageways within said members and within said threaded passageways in said clamping frames and being rotatable to move said clamping frames relative to said members, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in one direction to cause said clamping frames to move relative to said members and thereby force said clamping portions into braking engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to force said sleeve-like portions into braking engagement with said braking surfaces on said members, said double-threaded clamping screws being rotatable in the opposite direction to cause said clamping frames to move relative to said members and thereby force said clamping portions out of braking engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to cause said anti-friction elements to move said sleeve-like portions out of engagement with said braking surfaces on said members.

5. In a vibrating device which has a container that is normally held in upright position but that can be selec tively rotated to dumping position, sleeve-like portions that are secured to and that project from said container, vibratable members with braking surfaces, clamping frames that each include a clamping portion, said clamping portions and said braking surfaces being oppositely disposed of said sleeve-like portions, anti-friction elements that are carried by said clamping frames, members that are movable to move said clamping frames into position to brake said sleeve-like portions and being movable in the opposite direction to move said clamping frames out of braking position and to move said anti-friction elements into position to rotatably support said sleeve-like portions, links that are secured to said movable members to eifect rotation of said movable members, and hydraulic cylinders that normally disposed said movable members in position to hold said clamping portions of said clamping frames in engagement with said sleeve-like portions to hold said sleeve-like portions in braking engagement with said braking surfaces on said vibratable members but being actuatable to rotate said movable members to move said clamping frames and thereby move said clamping portions of said clamping frames out of engagement with said sleeve-like portions and to cause said anti-friction elements to engage said sleeve-like portions and thereby move said sleeve-like portions out of engagement with said braking surfaces, and a hydraulic motor that can be actuated to effect rotation of said container relative to said vibratable members, said hydraulic motor being adapted to be energized only when said hydraulic cylinders are urging said clamping frames away from braking positions.

6. In a device which has a container that is normally held in one position but is selectively movable to a second position, said containerhaving a portion that projects from but is movable with it, a braking surface, a clamping surface, said braking surface and said clamping surface being oppositely disposed of said portion of said container, and rotatable members that are selectively movable into and out of engagement with said portion of said container, said clamping surface and said braking surface being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said container in said one position, said rotatable members being'adapted to be out of engagement with said portionof said container whenever said clamping surface and said braking surface are engaging said portion of said container and are thereby holding said container in said one position, said rotatable members being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said portion of said container out of engagement with said braking surface and therebyfacilitate movement of said container to said second position, said clamping surface being out of engagement with said portion of said container whenever said rotatable members are holding said portion of said container out of engagement with said braking surface.

7. In a device which has a container that is normally held in one position but is selectively movable to a second position, said container having a portion that projects from but is movable with it, a braking surface, a clamping surface, and rotatable members that are selectively movable into and out of engagement with said portion of said container, said clamping surface and said braking surface being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said container in said one position, said rotatable members being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said portion of said container out of engagement with said braking surface and thereby facilitate movement of said container to said second position.

8. In a device which has a container that is normally held in one position but is selectively movable to a second position, said container having a portion that projects from but is movable with it, a braking surface, a clamping surface, and rotatable members that are selectively movable into and out of engagement with said portion of said container, said clamping surface and said braking surface being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said container in said one position, said rotatable members being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said portion of said container out of engagement with said braking surface and thereby facilitate movement of said container to said second position, said clamping surface and said rotatable members being interconnected for simultaneously movement, whereby said clamping surface will move out of engagement with said portion of said container as said rotatable members move into engagement with said portion of said container.

9. In a vibrating device which has a container that is normally held in upright position but that can be selectively rotated to dumping position, sleeve-like portions that are secured to and that project from said container, vibratable members with braking surfaces, clamping frames that each include a clamping portion, said clampmg portions and said braking surfaces being oppositely disposed of said sleeve-like portions, anti-friction elements that are carried by said clamping frames, members that are movable to move said clamping frames into position to brake said sleeve-like portions and being movable in the opposite direction to move said clamping frames out of braking position and to move said antifriction elements into position to rotatably support said sleeve-like portions.

10. In a device which has a container that is normally held in one position but is selectively movable to a second position, said container having a portion that projects from but is movable with it, a braking surface, a

clamping surface, said braking surface and said clamping surface being oppositely disposed of said portion of said container, rotatable members that are selectively movable into and out of engagement with said portion of said container, said clamping surface andrsaid braking surface being adapted to engage said portion of said container and hold said container in said one position, said 15- 16 rotatable members being adapted to be out of engageface and said rotatable members relative to said braking ment with said portion of said container Whenever said surface. 2 Said .braking Surface are engaging References Cited in the file of this patent said portion of said container and are thereby holding said container in said one position, said rotatable mom 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS bers being adapted to engage said portion of said con- 2,519,0 0 Manley 15 1950 tainer and hold said portion of said container out of 2,309 473 fle h Oct 15 1957 engagement with said braking surface and thereby facili- 2,973,605 B d M r, 7, 1961 tate movement of said container to said second position, 2,997,813 B a d A 29, 1961 and members that are movable to move said clamping sur- 10 2,997,814 Brandt Aug. 29, 1961 

7. IN A DEVICE WHICH HAS A CONTAINER THAT IS NORMALLY HELD IN ONE POSITION BUT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE TO A SECOND POSITION, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A PORTION THAT PROJECTS FROM BUT IS MOVABLE WITH IT, A BRAKING SURFACE, A CLAMPING SURFACE, AND ROTATABLE MEMBERS THAT ARE SELECTIVELY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID CLAMPING SURFACE AND SAID BRAKING SURFACE BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER AND HOLD SAID CONTAINER IN SAID ONE POSITION, SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER AND HOLD SAID PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BRAKING SUR- 